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Mac, who was the father of Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, was one of the first to bring punk music to Australian audiences when he presented shows on Double J in the '70s.

Speaking to Myf Warhurst on Double J today, his friend of over 40 years and former colleague, Mark Colvin remembered Cocker's hardiness.

"He was very tough, you sort of had to be tough in those days," Colvin said. "Double J was a quite a subversive station which was pretty much constantly under attack from the moral majority, not only outside but also in...

"It was quite hard. What you were trying to do was put dangerous and subversive stuff to air and Mac was one of the people who really had the backbone to do that. His ears were open to everything."

Colvin said he as ‘devastated’ at the news of his mates death. As was original Double J Station Manager Marius Webb, who worked with Cocker in the 70s.

‘He was a damn fine human being," Webb said. "He brought passion and a highly unique musical sensibility to his work with us."

Mac went on to have a 33 year career with the ABC, broadcasting with Radio Australia, Radio National and 105.7ABC Darwin.